Thursday, November 08, 2012

There and Back, Again

The best laid plans, and all that. Earlier today I posted that I was off to Lubbock for a prostate ultrasound and biopsy, the latter of which I intended to refuse unless presented with a compelling case as to why I should go ahead and git'r'dun. My urologist made his case, and quite persuasively, at that. It seems like I was operating off an incomplete data set and when I was confronted with the whole set of numbers I opted for the biopsy. Shorter: 55% of men in my age group with a Free PSA number of less than ten percent (scroll down for a table, if'n ya have a mind to do so)... and mine is eightpercent... were found to have cancer. So... we did it.And it wasn't that bad. A couple o' friends advised me of this in off-line conversations, and they were correct. Which ISN'T to say this is sumthin' I'd want to do every day, or even once a year. Nope, once is enough. Once is MORE than enough, actually.

So there was this exchange along about the time the fourth of 12 slices/jabs in my nether regions were taken:

Dr. V: You're beginning to be quite a pro at this.Me: I'd MUCH rather have retained my amateur status, thank ya very much. Heh.Dr. V: Well, Hey... you're really relaxed and you're able to laugh and joke about it, so that's good.Me: Being "relaxed" is entirely dependent on which side of this fence you're on at the moment, lemmee tell ya.Dr. V: Heh.

But yeah: lots of apprehension, not too much discomfort. We get our results this Wednesday, when Dr. V makes one of his scheduled visits to P-Ville.

―:☺:―

In other news... El Casa Móvil De Pennington is sold. I had to rush back from Lubbock to finalize the deal but, alas: the frickin' DMV got in the way. My buyer and I cooled our heels in line at the DMV today for one solid hour before we were informed by an oh-so-helpful civil servant "Oh, we aren't doing VIN inspections today. You'll have to come back tomorrow." Thanks, Lady... thanks a LOT. For the uninitiated, New Mexico requires a VIN inspection by some sorta uniquely qualified individual before a title can be transferred. Exactly what sort of qualifications or degree(s?) one needs to read a fucking number printed on a label in three or four placesin any given vehicle is beyond me... but there ya go. "We're from the gub'mint and we're here to help!"Yeahrightsure.I'll get my money tomorrow and we're VERY pleased about that. Another page is turned...

OT, but I've been meaning to mention that one of the most modern planetariums in the country is located in Baton Rouge and named The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium and Exxon-Mobil Space Theater. Any relation, I wonder? "...it houses a 60 ft domed theater that is one of the most sophisticated multi-media presentation venues in the country. The theater presents digital movies, sky shows and visual music shows using the most advanced visual and sound technology available. A 4k fulldome visual projection system puts you in the center of the action, enveloped by a 5.1 15,000-watt digital Surround-sound System."

Since we are echoing, I will add my echo - glad you got there and got 'er done, and hope all goes well with the biopsy. I can't say the word "biopsy" without thinking of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." I know you don't watch such silly movies, but it is a classic.

And, I'm glad you got the El Casa Movil sold. Did you know that here in OK the DMV's are privately owned - and they want your business. So much better than NM where I almost had a conniption fit every time I saw those people.

Lou, Louisiana has a mixture of private/public DMV service. But, the contract stations only handle title transfers, and new plates. And, they charge modest fees. An awful lot of DMV service is done by mail now, too. That is probably why our State-run DMVs run much smoother now. We've hit a pretty good balance, but it's interesting to know that OK's are totally privately owned. Interesting...

I don't know if I posted it on my blog...I'm sure I did on Facebook...but a visit to a Louisiana DMV is now quite a pleasant, and quick experience, instead of the interminable hell that it once was.

When you go in, you hit the info desk, where a clerk asks you what you are there to do. She/he then tells you exactly what you need to get it done, tells you now much it will cost, and makes sure you have it all before giving you a number. If you don't have it all (or in the odd case that they are not doing a certain thing that day), they send you on your way without waiting. Saves a ton of frustration.

I opened up the DMV at 0800 to renew my car license tags. There were 15 people in line in front of me when the doors opened. The first guy in line was sent away (guess he didn't have his junk together). The info line moved quickly, as the clerk desks opened up one by one. I walked out of the DMV at exactly 0814 HRS, new registration, and plate sticker in hand. Seriously...14 minutes. And, it moves that quickly all day, too. We do VERY little right in gubmint in Louisiana. But, we've cornered the market on efficiency in our DMVs.

MVD in ABQ and Rio Rancho is privatized. I ONLY use that one. New license, new tags, registration. Very efficient and friendly. I won't even think about going to the gov run place. I'll pay the surcharge, everyday of the week!

Glad you made it through the "procedure" okay and I'll keep the line open to the "Deity at Hand" for the results.

The pic of El Casa Movil is great: the bike, the rolling home, the Green Hornet, all amid the tall trees and with those sun rays that elevate the objects and the whole scene to a spiritual level. Like I said, great photo.

Thanks, Dan. That pic was taken in the Oakland Hills above the East Bay in SFO... at the beginning of the last real road trip, so it has a lot of sentimental value. I'll miss the Casa Móvil, but not all THAT much!